Sifter-top can



May 29, 1934. A. G. HOPKINS 1,960,674

SIFTER-TOP CAN Filed Jan. 28, 1933 INVENTOR 1.5

9 BY 9,, ATTORNEYS Arlhur G. Hopkins Patented May 29, 1934 PATENT OFFICE SIFTER-TOP CAN Arthur G. Hopkins, Maspeth, N. Y., assignor to Metal Package Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 28, 1933, Serial No. $353,993

Claims.

This invention relates to sifter-top cans and to metal receptacles or containers in general intended to carry powdered material and provided I with a slidable closure.

The primary object of the/present invention is to generally improve sifter-top cans with a View to providing such a can which will be simple and inexpensive to make, strong, and, most important,

which will close with a perfectly sift-proof or safety seal. A more particularobject of the present invention is to so relate the configuration and dimension of the slide and the cover of the can as to automatically guide the slide by the cover or receptacle, thereby dispensing with special guide grooves or slots. Still another object of my invention is to insure a perfectly tight and dependable seal, and this is preferably accomplished by making the slide large in area and using the entire marginal portion of the slide for close sealing engagement with the cover, a substantial intermediate area of the slide being dished inwardly, as by the use of peripheral steps or the like, so that appropriate actuator means or handle extending from the slide through the cover for reciprocating the slide may at the same time be dimensioned to exert tension on the slide. Further objects of my invention center about the actuator means or handle used to reciprocate the slide, and are to provide such a handle which will make it easy to operate the slide, which will be attractive in appearance, and which will be so related to the slide as to effectively prevent any leakage or sifting of the pulverulent material out of the can by way of the actuator means or handle. Another .object of my invention is to so arrange the siftertop can that the can contents may be sifted from the can at either of two different rates. Still another object of my invention is to provide a sitter-top can with an opening especially designed to permit the measured removalof the can contents, as by theuse of a teaspoon.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the siftertop can elements and their relation one to the other ashereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by a drawing in which:' i

Fig. l is a partially sectioned side elevation of a Sifter-top can embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken in the plane of the'line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the can;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail taken in the plane of the line 44 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modified form of my invention; 7

Fig. 6 is a section taken in the plane of the line 6-6 in Fig. 5; Y Y i Fig. 7 is a partially sectioned top view of still another form of my invention; and

Fig. 8 shows the slide of Fig. 7 in closed position.

Referring to the drawing, the invention in each case comprises a can body B provided with a cover C having associated therewith a slide S. In general, it should be noted that the can body B is rectangular; that the cover C is similarly rectangular to fit the can body; and that the slide S is likewise rectangular, it having a width substantially equal to the width of the can body B or cover C and a length somewhat shorter than the length of the cover C, so that it is adapted for reciprocation longitudinally of the cover, it being meanwhile guided by the side walls of the can or cover. Thus, referring to the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the width of slide S is equal to the internal width of the cover C, and the slide is accurately guided during its longitudinal reciprocation by the side flanges of the cover. A similar remark applies to the relation of slide s and coverC in Figs. 7 and 8. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the slide S is slightly narrower in width than cover C, but in relation to the over-all dimensions of the slide and cover it will be evident that only a'slight angularity of the slide is permitted. This reduction in width of the slide is desirable in those cases where there is danger of the upper edge of the I can body B reaching the top of the cover, for in such case the reduced width of the slides, as shown in Fig. 2, provides a clearance into which the upper edge of the can body may pass, and any possible turning of the slide is then prevented by the relation of the slide to the inner wallof the can body itself.

Considering the parts in greaterdetail and first referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the can body B may be of conventional type consisting of a tubular member 12 the bottom end of which is closed by a seamed bottom wall 14 and the upper end of which is provided with an outwardly projecting bead or shoulder 16. The top of the can is closed by the cover C which comprises aflat top wall 18 and a peripheral flange 20. Flange 20 is adapted to fit tightly wardly until it engages the bead 16.

The fiat top 18 is perforated by a row of holes 22 located near one end of the cover. The holes 22 are closed or opened by reciprocation of the slide S. This slide is preferably dished inwardly over a substantial part of its area, as by the use of successive peripherally directed steps 24. The marginal portion 28 of the slide is adapted to fit closely against the flat inner surface of the cover wall 18. The engagement is made accurate entirely around the surface of the slide in order to prevent the contents of the can from sifting between the slide and the cover. To maintain the desired snug engagement, the actuator means or handle preferably exerts a tension on the dished central portion of the slide, as is clearly evident from the slight outward bowing of the slide shown in Fig. l, and consequently the entire marginal area of the slide is held in close engagement with the inner wall of the cover at all times by reason of the inherent resilience of the material of the slide itself. In order to facilitate movement of the slide and at the same time to enhance the attractive appearance of the receptacle, the actuator means 30, instead of being a simple rivet such as is shown in Fig. 7, may be a more elaborate handle the nature of which will be understood from an examination of Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing. The handle 30 is pressed out of sheet metal and is provided with a humped intermediate portion which is ridged or corrugated to facilitate movement of the handle. The handle is further provided with leading and trailing portions 32 which rest upon and slide against the outer surface of the cover. The intermediate parts of the side walls of the handle are extended inwardly to form tongues 34 which pass through a rectangular slot 36, cut through the cover wall, and then pass through the slide S to which they are secured, as by bending the same outwardly in a manner indicated at 38 in Figs. 2 and 4. In order to prevent sifting of the contents of the can through the point of juncture of the handle with the slide, the slide is preferably not provided with slots to receive the tongues 34, but instead the slide is merely slit and. a part of the metal forced inwardly, as is shown at 40 in Fig. 4, to permit passage of tongues 34 through the slide. When tongues 34 are bent outwardly, as shown at 38, the metal 40 is also forced outwardly against tongues 34, thereby effectively closing the joint between the tongues and the slide and preventing any sifting of material therethrough.

The leading and trailing portions 32 of the handle 30 may, if desired, be flanged outwardly slightly, as is shown at 42, in order to provide enlarged bearing surfaces. At the same time, the cover wall 18 may be grooved to form guide channels 44 in which the narrow flanges 42 rest and along which they slide. The guide channels 44 protectively house the flanges 42 and prevent the same from catching on the fingers or clothing of a person using the receptacle.

The operation of the can is self-evident, handle 30 being slid toward or away from the perforations 22 according as it is desired to close or open the can. The contents of the can are effectively sealed when the slide is closed because, as will be evident from an examination of Fig. 1, the contents at no time get above the slide. In the particular form of the invention here shown, the guidance of the slide is taken care of by the rectangular nature of the slot 36 in which handle 30 slides, or/ and by the guide channels 44 in which handle 30 slides, and in such case the slide need not be of the full width of the can cover. However, the large area of slide is anyway desirable because in this manner a very effective closure is obtained, there being available both a large marginal area for sealing purposes and a large intermediate area for spring effort.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 differs from that already described, first, in that the slide S is made fully as wide as the cover and is intended to be guided thereby; secondly, in that the slide, instead of being provided with peripheral steps causing inward dishing of the same, is provided with longitudinal beads or channels 50 which stiffen and rigidify the slide and help insure maintenance of the marginal area thereof in close contact with the flat top of the can; third, in the nature of the discharge aperture 52; and fourth, in simplification of the construction of the handle 54. The discharge aperture 52 is a single relatively large opening which is bounded on one side by a straight line 56 and bounded at its opposite side by a curved line 58, these defining an opening adapted both in configuration and dimension to receive an ordinary teaspoon. The feature in question is of particular value with cans intended for cocoa or the like and which are substantially larger in size than the small sifter-top cans used for pepper, spices, and the like. With a discharge opening of the type shown, it is readily possible to insert a teaspoon in the can and to extract the same full of cocoa or other material, the spoonful being leveled off by the upper or straight edge 56 of the discharge opening. Consequently a measured supply of the material may be taken out of the can, as when following a recipe, and at the same time all of the advantages of a simple closure slide are retained.

The handle 54, like the handle 30, is pressed out of a single piece of sheet metal and is provided with a humped central portion which is ridged or corrugated to facilitate movement of the handle and slide. It likewise is provided with leading and trailing portions 60 which rest upon and bear against the outer surface of the cover, but in this case no outwardly turned flanges 42 are provided and no channels or guide grooves 44 are provided. The intermediate portions of the side walls of the handle 54 form tongues 62 which pass through an appropriate rectangular slot 64 in the cover and which thereafter pass through and are secured to the slide.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 7 differs from those heretofore described primarily by the provision of a series of discharge holes '70 near one edge of the slide S. These holes are smaller than the main discharge holes '72 in the cover and are so positioned as to register with the same, as is shown in Fig. '7. With this arrangement the can may be closed by moving the slide to one extreme position, as is illustrated in Fig. 8. By moving the slide to an intermediate position, shown in Fig. 7, a slow discharge or sifting of the contents is made possible. By further moving the slide to its extreme open position, the discharge holes 72 are cleared by the edge of the slide and a rapid discharge of the contents is made possible.

The form of the invention here shown further differs from that already described in that the slide is moved by a simplified form of handle consisting merely of a rivet passing through a longitudinal slot 82 in the cover wall and secured to the slide.

It will be understood that the peripheral stepping or dishing of the slide, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may be used with the cans of Figs. 5 and 7, and, conversely, that the ribbed arrangement shown in Fig. 5, which I deem less preferable than the dished arrangement of Fig. 2, may be used with the other forms of can. It will also be understood that the more elaborate handle of Figs. 1, 3, and 4 may, if desired, be used with any of the other species of can, and, conversely, that the simplified handles shown in the later figures may, if desired, be used with the can of Fig. 1. Similarly, features such as the two-speed sifter rate, or the reception of a measuring spoon, are independent of the particular form and details of the slide and actuator handle and consequently may be applied to any of the other forms of can shown. The slide in the first form of can may be made of a width fully equal to the cover, instead of merely nearly equal to the same as shown. In general, the various features of invention herein disclosed may obviously be combined as desired to form different combinations of features depending upon the requirements to be met in any particular case.

It will also be appreciated that, if desired, the slide may be located on a side wall of the receptacle instead of on the cover wall, the only requirement being that the wall and slide mate together with a tight and accurate fit. It will also be apparent that a discharge opening of any desired configuration may be provided, as elliptical or diamond-shaped, although when a single large opening is desired, I prefer to use the outline shown in Fig. 5. Furthermore, the can itself may be of a number of types including not only the plain slip cover type but also the sanitary type, threaded type, section thread type, single friction type, and double or triple type cans.

It will therefore be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in preferred forms, many changes and modifications may be made in the structures disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A sifter-top can comprising a generally rectangular can body, a rectangular cover for closing the same, said cover being apertured near one end to permit discharge of the can contents, a slide under the cover for closing the discharge aperture, said slide being generally rectangular in configuration and having a width substantially equal to the width of the can cover and a length somewhat shorter than the length of the can cover, said slide having flat edge portions and at least a portion thereof within said edge portions being pressed downwardly below the bottom surface of said cover, and means extending from the slide through the cover for reciprocating the slide longitudinally of the cover and for holding the edges of the slide closely against the cover.

2. A sitter-top can comprising a can wall provided with a discharge aperture, a slide for closing said aperture, said slide being struck peripherally inwardly so as to dish the same, the edge of said slide being in close sealing engagement with the apertured wall, and means extending from the slide through the wall for reciprocating the slide toward and from the aperture, said means further applying tension between the dished middle portion of the slide and the wall in order to hold the slide in close sealing engagement with the wall.

3. A sitter-top can comprising a fiat can wall provided with a discharge aperture, a slide for closing said aperture, said slide being stepped peripherally inwardly so as to dish the same inwardly over a substantial area, the entire peripheral edge of said slide being in close sealing engagement with the apertured Wall, and means extending from the slide through the wall for reciprocating the slide toward and from the aperture, said means further applying tension between the dished middle portion of the slide and the wall in order to hold the entire marginal area of the slide in close sealing engagement with the wall.

4. A sitter-top can comprising a generally rectangular can body, a rectangular cover for closing the same, said cover being apertured near one end to permit discharge of the cancontents, a slide within the cover for closing the discharge aperture, said slide being generally rectangular in configuration and having a width substantially equal to the width of the can-cover and. a length somewhat shorter than the length of the can cover, and actuator means extending from the slide through the cover for reciprocating the slide longitudinally of the cover, said slide being struck peripherally inwardly so as to dish the same, the edge of said slide being in close sealing engagement with the apertured cover, said actuator means providing a tension between the dished middle portion of the slide and the cover in order to hold the slide in tight sealing engagement with the inner surface of the cover.

5. A sifter-top can comprising a generally rectangular can body, a rectangular fiat cover for closing the same, said cover being apertured'near one end to permit discharge of the can contents, a slide within the cover for closing the discharge aperture, said slide being generally rectangular in configuration and having a width substantially equal to the width of the can cover and a length somewhat shorter than the length of the can cover, and actuator means extending from the slide through the cover for reciprocating the slide 1ongitudinally of the cover, said slide being stepped peripherally inwardly so as to dish the same inwardly over a substantial area, the entire peripheral edge of said slide being in close sealing engagement with the apertured cover, said actuator means providing a tension between the dished middle portion of the slide and the cover in order to hold the entire marginal area of the slide in tight sealing engagement with the inner surface of the cover.

6. A Sifter-top can comprising a generally rectangular can body, a rectangular cover for closing the same, said cover being apertured near one end to permit discharge of the can contents, a slide within the cover for closing the discharge aperture, said slide being generally rectangular in configuration and having a width substantially equal to the width of the can cover and a length somewhat shorter than the length of the can cover, and actuator means extending from the slide through the cover for reciprocating the slide longitudinally of the cover and for holding the slide tightly against the cover, said slide being depressed and channeled to form a series of longitudinal grooves tending to stiffen and rigidify the slide and to cause the ends thereof to press tightly against the inner wall of the cover.

'7. A sifter-top can comprising a can body having an apertured wall, a slide arranged for reciprocation on the inner face of the wall, and a handle for moving the same, said handle being pressed out of a single piece of sheet metal to form leading and trailing portions adapted to slide on the upper face of the wall, and intermediate tongues passing through and adapted to slide in a slot in said wall, said tongues further passing through slits in the slide and being bent on .the inner face of the slide.

8. A sifter-top can comprising a can body having an apertured wall, a slide arranged for reciprocation on the inner face of the wall, and a handle for moving the same, said handle being pressed out of a single piece of sheet metal to form leading and trailing portions adapted to slide on the upper face of the wall, and intermediate tongues passing through and adapted to slide in a slot in said wall, said tongues further. passing through slits in the slide and being bent on the inner face of the slide, the slits being closed against the tongues to prevent passage of powder therethrough, the leading and trailing portions of the slide being flanged outwardly to form bearing surfaces and the wall being provided with depressed grooves in which said flanges are slidable.

9. A Sifter-top can comprising a generally rectangular can body, a rectangular cover for closing the same, said cover being apertured with a row of relatively large apertures near one end to permit discharge of the can contents, a slide within the cover for closing the discharge apertures, said slide being generally rectangular in configuration and having a width substantially equal to the width of the can cover and a length somewhat shorter than the length of the can cover, said slide having flat edge portions and at least a portion thereof within said edge portions being pressed downwardly below the bottom surface of said cover, and means extending from the slide through the cover for reciprocating the slide longitudinally of the cover, and for holding the edges of the slide closely against the cover, said slide being provided near its sealing edge with a row of relatively small apertures adapted to register with the large apertures, the slide being movable to three positions respectively sealing the apertures, registering the large and small apertures, and wholly clearing the large apertures.

10. A sifter-top can comprising a generally rec-' tangular can body, a rectangular cover for closing the same, said cover being provided with a single large aperture near one end to permit discharge of the can contents, a slide within the cover for closing the discharge aperture, said slide being generally rectangular in configuration and having a width substantially equal to the width of the can cover and a length somewhat shorter than the length of the can cover, said slide having fiat edge portions and at least a portion thereof within said edge portions being pressed downwardly below the bottom surface of said cover and. means extending from the slide through the cover for reciprocating the slide longitudinally of the cover, and for holding the edges of the slide closely against the cover, said aperture being bounded by a straight line on one side and an arc on its other side and being properly shaped and dimensioned to receive a spoon when the closure slide is retracted. 1

ARTHUR G. HOPKINS. 

